Extension table



May 31,1932. M. BURG EXTENSION TABLE Filed Aug. 19, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 31, 1932. MA BURG EXTENSION TABLE Filed Aug. 19, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I May 31, 1932. M. BURG 1,860,990

EXTENS I ON TABLE Filed Aug. 19, 1931 5 Sheets- Sheet 3 Patented May 31, 1932 s'rArss MICHAEL BURG, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND EXTENSION TABLE Appueauon filed August `1e, 19er. serial No. saoei.

"i vided. such legs have to bey moved into and out of the table top supporting position by hand. A so called gate legged: table may be taken as ain example of tables with movable supplemental legs.

One important object ot' the presen-t invention is to provide animproved form of exten sion table wherein supplemental legs are provided whichautomatically move into and out of table top supporting position with the opening and closing movements of the table.

t A. second important object of the invention is to provide an improved form ci' extension table having automatically movable supplemental legs which are housed out oi sight while the table is closed.

A@ third important object of theinvention is to provide an improved form of extension table wherein the extensions of the top are housed beneath the main top portion when the tableis closed and carrysupplementa'l legs which are also housed beneath the mamY top in horizontal position while the table is closed.

With the above and other objects in View f as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts liereinatter fully described', illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying dra-wings like cha-r-l aci'ers oi reference indicate like parts' 1nv the several views, and:

`Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe' improved table with one end shown closed and the other shown opened. l

Figure 2 is a longitudinal median section with the parts arranged as in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. bottom plan view thereof partly in section.

Figure 4 is: al detail section ot onevend similar to Figure but withfthisend ef the'table in position intermediate'bet-ween' closed and opened positions.

Figure 5 is a section on-the line 5-"5 of Fig` ure 1.-

Figure 6 is a detail view ot the` central part oit one side of the table with the; top d-i'sas sembled from the main frame and raised.

Figure 7 is a detail sectionon the line 7*-71 of Figure 1, the view being to an enlarged scale.

In the embodiment of the invention as here illustrated there is provided a rectan-A gular frame 10 which is supported oir four main legs l1 connected at their lower ends` by suitable braces `12. Adjacent each corner ot' the frame 10 and extendingupwardly therefrom is a short post 13v and frame or housing sides 14 are secured against the outer side faces of these posts and? thus extend along the sidey members of the frame 10. Extending transversely of theV table at the middle portion of the members 1&1 is a pair of lspaced cross members or transverse ties 15 which restoIr top of and are secured to the members 14C-.- 'liheseities projecty sightly beyond the outer faces of the'membersld and thus overhang, said members. The main orxed top 16 ofthe'table rests on the ties 15 and at its central portion is provided oneach side with a dropl side 17 firmly secured to the` under side of said topk 16 and provided with notches or recesses 18to i-'eceiv'e'thev ends of the cross ties 15 Screwed onto the .under side of each drop side 17 is a keeper strip 19 which covers the lower faces of the project-A frame. It will be noted that the central portion only of the top 16 is thus secured and `that the end portions of thek topf lie spaced above the frame. Y

Inner guide strips 20 extend between the end members of the frame 10 and have their upperV :faces flushv with the upper faces; of

lng ends of the ties 15 at the respective side f and thus theY top 16 is held irmly to the 85 `ment of the slides 25. respective extension slides 30 carry laterally end member of the frame 10 and rest on the side members of said frame with their inner faces flush with the inner edges of said frame side members. Each extension top includes an outer or end leaf 23 and an inner leaf 24 hinged together so that the inner leaf may be folded outwardly to lie on top of the leaf 23 when the table is closed or may lie in the same plane as the leaf 23 when the table is open. These two leaves, when folded together just fill the space between the top 16 and sides 14 when the table is closed. Each leaf 23 is fixed on top of the outer ends of a pair of sliding side bars 25 which are connected at their outer ends by a member 26 forming a closure for the space between the posts 13 when the table is closed. The members 25 at one end fit respectively between a guide strip 20 and the guide strip 21 on one side and bet-ween the guide strip 21 and the guide strip 22 on the opposite side. The corresponding members 25 for the other end fit in the remaining spaces between the guide strips and thus, when the table is closed, lie alongside of each other. Each of the members 25 rests on an end member of the frame 10 andis provided on its lower edge adjacent its inner end with a cam portion 27 which causes these members to be raised after they have been drawn out somewhat more than half their length in opening the table. Also the inner end of each slide 25 is bevelled off at 28 to engage the bevelled under surface of a respective cam strip 29 fixed to the outer side of a respective tieV 15 when the slides 28 are pushed in in closing the table. By this means when the table is opened kthe extension tops are raised to a level with the main top and, when the table is closed, the extension tops arev depressed so that they may fit beneath the main top.

Each of the slides 25 has a longitudinal slot 29 therein and extension slides 30 of T-shape in cross-section have their stem portions fitted slidably in these slots. A keeper plate 31 is fixed to the end of the stem of each extension slide and overlaps the upper and lower portions of the respective slide 25 toy hold the extension slide in place. The

overlapping ends of these keeper plates work in rabbets 32. Stop plates 33 bridge the respective slots 29 at their inner ends and engage stop screws 34 carried by the respective extension slides 30 to limt outward move- The inner ends of the projecting stop pins 35 which, whenthe slides are pulled fully out in opening the table, engagestop pins 36 projecting downwardly from theties 15. Between the ties 15 and projecting downwardly below said ties are cam latches 37 which lie in spaced relation to certain of the stops 36. Each of these cam latches has a bcvelled under edge forming a cam surface undenwhich the respective pin 35 rides just before itengages its coacting in 36. The end of the latch 37 next the pin 36 is parallel to the pin and thus between each latch and the adjacent pin 36 there is a notch in which the respective pin 35 engages upon the slides being fully drawn out. By reason of this arrangement whenever an end of the table is in its extended position and it is sought to close the same, the extension slide on the side of that end with which the respective latch 37 cooperates will be held in extended position until the main slides at that end are depressed by engagement of the bevels 28 with the cam strips 29. As this occurs the pin 35 which has hitherto engaged the end of the latch 37 will be forced below the latch and t-he extension slide will be free to move inwardly until its end strikes the cross member 29 at the opposite end. The provision of means for maintaining the eXtension slide on at least one side of each end in its fully extended position during the first part of the closing movement is highly important as will be now explained.

Hinged to the lower edge of each cross member 26 is a leg plate 38 carrying a pair of legs 39. Pivoted to one of the slides 25 at each end of the table is a leg trip lever 40 having a short arm which engages the head of the T-shaped extension slide 30 on that side7 this head being provided with a wear strip 41. The longer arm of this lever 40 carries a laterally projecting pin 42 which engages against the outer face of a leg 39 at this end as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Now, if the table be in extended position at one end and it is desired to close the same, the leaf 24 is folded onto the leaf 23 and the end pushed in. By reason of the extension slide on one side being temporarily held from inward movementthe main slide 25 on that side `the bevels 28 will engage the strip 29 and cause disengagement of the extension slide pin 35 from the cam latch 37 so that the extension slide may now move inwardly. As soon as this disengagement takes place it is followed by the movement of the cam edges 27 over the frame 10 so that the extension top drops and the leaves are slid into place be neath the main top. Obviously the pulling out of the extension end will cause reversal of these steps. v

rl`here has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departingV from the material spirit thereof. It is not, there-fore, desired to confine -'the invention tothe exact form herein shown and described, but' it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

l. ln an extension table, a. main section having atop', an extension section having a top and being normally housed beneath said top and sidable outwardly therefrom to extended position, legs liingedl'y connected to said extension section to swing between horizontal position beneath the extension section when closed `and vertical position therebeneath when the table is extended, means on the extension section operable by initial closing movement of said extension to swing said legs from vertical to horizontal position, and means to free the last mentioned means upon completion of the initial closing movement.

2. ln an extension table, a main section having a top, an extension section havinga top and being normally housed beneath said top and slidable outwardly therefrom to extended position, means to elevate the extension section during opening movement to bring the top thereof into the plane of the top of the main section, legs hingedly connected to said extension section to swing between horizontal position beneath the extension section when closed and vertical position therebeneath when the table is extended, means on the extension section operable by initial closing movement of said extension to swing said legs from vertical to horizontal position, and means to free the last mentioned means upon completion of the initial closing movement.

8. In an extension table, a main section having a top, a pair of main slides slidably mounted to move between retracted and housed position beneath said top and extended position projecting from the main section, an extension top carried by said slides, a pair of legs hingedly mounted bencath the outer end of said extension top, an extension slide connected to one of the pair of slides to slide longitudinally thereof, said extension slide being slidably mounted beneath the main section top, latch means carried by the main section for engaging and holding the extension slide from closing movement when extended, means carried by a main slide and operable upon initial closing movement to move the legs to horizontal position beneath the extension top by engagement with said extension slide when extended, and means to free the last mentioned means upon completion of the initial closing movement.

l. In an extension table, a. main section having a top, a pair of main slides slidably mounted `to move between retractedy and housed position beneath said top andk extended position projecting from the main section,

an extension top carried by said slides, means to elevate said slides as the same are moved beneath the main section top, latch means carried by the main section for engaging and holding the extension slide from vclosing movement when extended, and means carried by a main slide and yoperable upon, initial closing movement to move the legs to horizontal position beneath the extension top by engagement with said extension slidewhen extended.

5. In an extension table, a main section having a top, a pairof. main slides slidably mounted to move between retracted and housed positionbeneath said top and ex- -ended position projecting from the main section, an extension top` carried by said slides, means to elevatesaid slides as the same are moved to projected position and permit depression thereof as the same are moved to retractedv position, a pair of legs hingedly mounted beneath the outer end of said extension top, an extension slide connected to one of the pair of sli-des to slide longitudinally thereof, said extensionvslide being slidably mounted beneathk the main sesion top, latch means carried by the main section for engaging andy holding the extension slide from closing movement when extended, means carried by a main slide and operable upon initial closing movement to move the legs to horizontal position beneath ythe extension top by engagement with sai-d extension slide when extended, and means to free the last mentioned means upon completion of the initial closing movement.V

6. In an extension table, a vmain. section having a top, a pair of main slides slidably mounted to move between retracted and housed position beneath sai-d top and yextended position projecting from the main section, an extension top carried by said slides, a pair of legs hingedly mounted beneath the. outer end of said extension top, an extension slide connected to one of the pair of slides to slide longitudinally thereof, said extension slide being slidably mounted beneath thejmain section top, latch meansv carried by the main section for engagingv and holding the extension slide from closing movement when extended, a lever pivoted to aV main slide and. having a short arm bearing against the end of the extension slide, said lever ex# tending alongside of one of said legs, and ar pin projecting from saidf lever and engag ies iro

ini

ing the adjacent leg to swing the same, said lever beiner moved by movement of the main slide relative to the extension slide.

7. In an extension table, a main section yhaving a top, a pair of main slides slidably mounted to move between retracted and housed position beneath said top and extended position projecting from the main section, an extension top carried by said slides, a pair of legs hingedly mounted beneath the outer end of said extension top, an extension slide connected to one of the pair of slides to slide longitudinally thereof, said extension slide being slidably mounted beneath the main section top, latch means carried by the main section for engaging and holding the extension slide from closing movement when extended, a lever pivoted to a main slide and having a short arm bearing against the end of the extension slide, said lever extending alongside of one of sai-d legs, a pin projecting from said lever and engaging the adjacent leg to swing the same, said lever being moved by movement of the main slide relative to the extension slide, and means to free the last mentioned means upon completion of the initial closing movement.

8. In an extension table, a main section having a top, a pair of mainA slides slidably mounted to move between retracted and housed position beneath said top and extended position projecting from the main section, an extension top carried by said slides, means to elevate said slides as the same are moved to projected position and permit depression thereof as the same are moved to retracted position, a pair of legs hingedly mounted beneath the outer end of said extension top, an extension slide connected to one of the pair of slides to slide longitudinally thereof, said extension slide being slidably mounted beneath the main section top, latch means carried by the main section for engagement and holding the extension slide from closing movement when extended, a lever pivote'd to a main slide and having a short arm bearing against the end of the extension slide, said lever extending alongside of one of said legs, and a pin projecting from said lever and engaging the adjacent leg to swing the same, said lever being moved by movement of the main slide relative to the extension slide.

9. In an extension table, a main section having a top, a pair of main slides slidably mounted to move between retracted and housed position beneath said top and extended position projecting from the main section, an extension top carried by said slides, means to elevate said slides as the same are moved to projected position and permit depression thereof as the same are moved to retracted position, a pair of legs hingedly mounted beneath the outer end of said extension top, an extension slide connected to one of the pair of Slides to slide longitudinally thereof, said extension slide being slidably mounted beneath the main section top, latch means carried b the main section for engagement and holdmg the extension slide from closing movement when extended, a lever pivoted to a main slide and having a short arm bearing against the end of the extension slide, said lever extending alongside of one of said legs, a pin projecting from said lever and engaging the adjacent leg to swing the same, said lever being moved by movement of the main slide relative to the extension slide, and means to free the last mentioned means upon completion of the initial closing movement.

f In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

MICHAEL BURG.

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